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Venus Williams falls to Angelique Kerber in Indian Wells quarterfinals

This was looking like it could be the year an American finally won the singles draw again at the BNP Paribas Open. No American man or woman has done it since 2001, when both Serena Williams and Andre Agassi hoisted the trophy.

With the way Venus Williams had played this week at Indian Wells, it began to feel as though maybe the oldest American in the draw could end that 18-year drought.

That plan unraveled Thursday evening on Stadium Court, as Williams lost a crucial first set tiebreak and couldn't recover in a 7-6(3), 6-3 loss to Angelique Kerber at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Aside from being the oldest American in the singles draw this year, she also was the last remaining here in the California desert.

Williams played well enough to stay in the match early and nearly took the first set, smashing 11 forehand winners in the first eight games. Four unforced errors in the opening set tiebreak put her down a set, and Kerber controlled the match down the stretch.

"I mean, to play against Venus," Kerber said, "it's always tough. I know this. I was expecting a tough match. I'm happy that I won the first set and then could move in and play a little bit (more of) my tennis then in the second set."

Kerber, the eighth-ranked player in the world, will move on to the semifinals at Indian Wells for the first time since 2013. The German will face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, who has won 10 consecutive matches this year, on Friday evening on Stadium Court.

After Williams lost the first set, she appeared to allow the disappointment and frustration to linger, and it showed in her facial expressions.

“With that body language, I think she’s still thinking about that first set,” ESPN commentator and 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert said.

Still, Williams battled back with that powerful forehand despite a lack of mobility due to what appeared to be an injured right knee. She hung with Kerber and kept her routinely guessing until Williams failed to save a break point in the second set, and that essentially ended her hopes of forcing a third.

Williams didn't say much in her post-match news conference.

"I mean, I played the best I could here," she said. "So I've got to get focused on the next event."

Venus Williams returns to Angelique Kerber during the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Thursday, March 14, 2019. Kerber won.(Photo: Taya Gray)

Williams, who ranks 36th in the world, did make some history here at Indian Wells. She reached the quarterfinals in 1998, at 17, and again this year, at 38. She was among the youngest to reach the quarterfinals here and is now the oldest.

Despite that, Williams' future here at Indian Wells remains uncertain. She’ll be 39 in June and is no longer one of the top 25 ranked players in the world. She has not openly discussed plans to retire anytime soon.

But if her appearance here showed us anything, it’s that she’s not done quite yet and can still play with some of the best on any given day.

Kerber praised Williams on Thursday, and Evert and another commentator, Patrick McEnroe, credited her for her strong play despite what appeared to be knee and elbow injuries.

They weren’t the only ones who showed appreciation for the former top-ranked player and Grand Slam champion. Perhaps no American here this week received the kind of roars from the crowd that Williams did. She earned that affection with the run she had.

“I think they just appreciate her passion and resilience.” Evert said.

Andrew John is covering the BNP Paribas Open for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com